Pliable material clamp



May 28, 1968 T. E. OCONNOR PLIABLE MATERIAL CLAMP Filed 001:. 23, 1965 INVFNTOR. THOMAS E. O CONNOR qrroe/vev United States Patent 3,384,?38 PLIABLE MATERIAL CLAMP Thomas E. UConnor, 49 N. 15th St., Hawthorne, NJ. 07506 Filed Get. 23, 1965, Ser. No. 503,448 2 Claims. (Cl. 24-243) ABSTRACT 0F THE DISCLOSURE A pliable material clamp utilizing the toggle action characteristic for snapping and securing into place pliable material, having also a catch for securing the clamp in a locked position while holding the material without slippage.

The present invention relates generally to a pliable material clamp and more particularly to a clamp utilizing the toggle action characteristic for snapping and securing into place pliable materials and for holding the material without slippage.

Heretofore, it has been the practice to utilize clamps, such as safety pins, using the principle of spring biasing and retaining. This means of securing a single or multiple layer of pliable material was unsatisfactory since the clamps or pins left unsightly pierced marks or in other ways damaged the material. In addition, it was difficult to assemble and disassemble this type of a clamping means without piercing the user of the clamp or damaging the material on which it was used.

It is, therefore, an object of this invention to provide a clamping means for securing pliable material by utilizing the toggle action as a means of securing the pliable material by said clamp.

Another object of this invention is to provide a means of temporarily uniting a predetermined number of pliable materials within the configuration of a clamp having male and female clamping portions wherein the female portion provides for retaining the pliable material while the male portion operates in such a manner as to produce a snap-over toggle action for urging the pliable material in a secured manner within the said female portion.

A further object of this invention is to provide a simple clamp that unites a pair of pliable materials particularly the material used as a diaper.

An additional object of this invention is to provide a simple fastening means having a minimum number of parts that is so constructed that it may be easily and completely assembled as a clamp and then easily disassembled for reuse.

Other objects and features of the invention will appear as the description of the particular physical embodiment selected to illustrate the invention progresses. In the accompanying drawings, which form a part of this specification, like characters of references have been applied to corresponding parts throughout the several views which make up the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of the invention;

FIGURE 2 is a side elevation of the female portion of the device shown in FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is a side elevation of the male and female portions of the device in the beginning of the toggle clamping action in securing one type of pliable material;

FIGURE 4 is a side elevation of the device shown in FIGURE 3 but of a more progressed position of the toggle clamping action;

FIGURE 5 is the fin'al position of the toggle clamping action of the device;

FIGURE 6 is a perspective view of the device of FIG- 3,384,938 Patented May 28, 19(58 URE 1 wherein the device is shown securing another type of pliable material;

FIGURE 7 is a plan view and a side view of a different species of the device shown in FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 8 is a perspective view of one portion of still another species of the device shown in FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 9 is a side view of the complete assembly of the device of FIGURE 8;

FIGURE 10 is a side elevation of a device of FIGURE 9 but in a clamped position;

FIGURE 11 is a side elevation of the device of FIG- URE 1 but utilized in a different manner;

FIGURE 12 is a side elevation of still another species of the invention shown in FIGURE 1; and,

FIGURE 13 shows still a further species of the invention shown in FIGURE 1.

This improved pliable material clamp may be employed to secure any pliable material for easy assembly and disassembly and which is so designed as to be utilized without piercing or in other ways damaging the material. Basic ally, this invention may be utilized to secure diapers or the openings of paper or plastic bags to permit easy chang ing of the diapers or removal and quick access to the contents of the paper or plastic bags. It should be understood that this clamp may not be limited to the fastening of these articles but may be used for securing other items having pliable characteristics.

To illustrate this invention, and without intention to limit it, the specific apparatus of FIGURE 1 shows a two piece clamp 5 comprising a fiat male portion 10 having a slight curvature and being of a spring-type steel material designed for attachment within a retaining element or female portion 11 having grooves 12 formed by upturned and inwardly directed ends 13 and 14.

The male portion 10 of the clamp 5 is provided with its central section 15 offset from its ends 16 and 17 so that when the ends 16 and 17 are inserted within the grooves 12 formed by the ends 13 and 14 of the female portion 11 it may be secured and locket therein as more specifically shown in FIGURES 2 to 5.

As shown in FIGURES 2 to 5, the female portion 11 of FIGURE 2 may be united with the :male portion 10 as shown in FIGURE 3 and then by applying a force F, exerted against the central section of the male portion 10, it will force the ends 16 and 17 within the confines of grooves 12 of the ends 13 and 14 of the female portion 11. A continued force F of the male portion 10 will cause a toggle action and in this way secure a pliable material 18 between the male portion 10 and the female portion 11, as best shown in FIGURE 5.

FIGURE 6 shows a different type of pliable material 29 that can be secured by said clamp. This material 20 may be a plastic or paper bag having an open end 22 that can be effectively closed by the clamp 5 in the manner described in FIGURES 2 to 5.

Referring to FIGURE 7, there is shown a clamp 25 having a male portion 26 and a female portion 27 wherein the male portion has outwardly-extending tips 28 at one end portion 29 and outwardly extending tips 30 at the other end portion 31. The female portion 27 is provided with inwardly-directed ends 32 having outwardly-directed tips 34. The tips 34 facilitate the securing of the male portion 26 onto the female portion 27, to prevent lateral movement of any material to be secured therebetween.

Referring to FIGURES 8 to 10, there is shown another species of the invention. FIGURES 8 and 10 show a clamp 35 provided with male portion 24 of the same configuration as the male portion 10 of the clamp 5 shown in FIGURE 1, having at one end 36, a rigid portion 38 pivotal at point 46 on one end 41. On the other end 42 of the rigid portion 38, there is provided a U-shaped catch 43.

In the assembly of this clamp, the aforesaid rigid portion 38 is pivoted about the pivot point 40, when the male portion 36 is inserted within a female portion 44, as shown in FIGURE 9 to clasp the flexible male portion 24 in a position as shown in FIGURE 10. In this manner the two portions 24 and 44 may be united and be secured by the U-shaped clamp 43 with no danger of disengagement of the male portion 24 out of the confines of the female portion 44.

Referring specifically to FIGURE 11, the clamp 5 of FIGURE 1 may be shown with its male portion 10 having secured thereon a pliable material 46 at one end 47 and the female portion 11 may have secured therein the pliable material 46 at its other end 48. In this manner, the pliable material 46 which may be a plastic or paper bag as shown in FIGURE 6, may have permanently secured a clamp that can readily open and close the bag without fear of loss of the fastening unit.

As shown in FIGURE 12, the entire clamping unit may be part of an assembly to be united by having the male portion 10 integral to one element 50 of the assembly which urges a pliable material 18 to be retained into the female portion of another element 52. The element 52 having ends 53 and 54 of the same configuration as the ends 13 and 14 of the female portion 11 shown in FIGURE 1. In this way, the elements 50 and 52 may be secured to each other by utilizing the principle shown in FIGURES 2 through 5, to retain the material 18.

FIGURE 13 shows an additional type clamp 56 having a male portion 58 and a female portion 59. The male portion 58 is of a simple disc configuration which is offset at its circumferential end 61. The end 61 is circular but of a smaller diameter than an opening 62 of the female portion 59 so that the male portion 58 can be inserted within the confines of the female portion 59 before being offset in a manner shown in FIGURES 2 through 5. In assembly, the male portion 58 can be toggled within the female portion 59 and held in place by the material. That is, the assembly produces a dimension, between the outside diameter of the male portion 58 and the thickness of the material, larger than the inside diameter 62 of the opening of the female portion 59. It should be noted that the male portion may include a slot 64 which permits the toggle action of the circular configuration of the male portion 58.

The invention described may therefore be varied in construction within the scope of the claims, for the particular device selected to illustrate the invention is but one of many possible embodiments of the same. The invention, therefore, is not to be restricted to the precise details of the structure shown and described.

What is claimed is:

1. A pliable material clamp comprising a retaining element including a base and integral retaining ends,and a spring type flat element having a slight curvature with ends for inserting within the integral retaining ends of said retaining element whereby provision is made to confine said spring type element within said retaining element to lock the pliable material between said retaining element and said spring type element by biasing the spring type element in a direction opposite to its curvature; further comprising a rigid portion pivotal at one end on one end portion of said spring type element and a catch for c0nmeeting the other ends of said rigid portion and said spring type element.

2. A pliable material clamp comprising a retaining element including a base and integral retaining ends, and a spring type fiat element having a slight curvature with ends for inserting within the integral retaining ends of said retaining element whereby provision is made to confine said spring type element within said retaining element to lock the pliable material between said retaining element and said spring type element by biasing the spring type element in a direction opposite to its curvature; further comprising a rigid portion pivotal at one end on one end portion of said spring type element and a U- shaped catch integral to the other end of said rigid portion for securing the other end of said spring type element so as to hold the end of said spring type element within the end of said retaining element by biasing the spring type element in a direction opposite to its curvature.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,277,327 8/ 1918 Lundqvist 24-30.5 1,549,806 3/1925 Rosen et al. 2,164,414 7/1939 Long. 2,589,036 3/1952 Bender 24-259 2,597,254 5/1952 Meohas 13246 FOREIGN PATENTS 76,086 6/1953 Denmark. 1,251,441 12/1960 France.

8,599 1911 Great Britain. 469,240 7/ 1937 Great Britain.

DONALD A. GRIFFIN, Primary Examiner. 

